NY unemployment says my claim is assigned to a worker - how long to process?

When your claim gets assigned to a worker, it typically means there's some issue they need to manually review. In 2025, NYSDOL is taking anywhere from 2-6 weeks to complete these reviews, unfortunately. It depends on what the specific issue is with your claim. Did they tell you why it needed review?

same thing happened to me last month, took 4 weeks and 2 days from when they told me it was assigned until I finally got paid. hang in there!

the whole systems a JOKE!!! I had my claim "assigned" for SEVEN WEEKS before they fixed it. kept telling me different things every time i called. one person says wait, next says theres a problem with employer verification, next says everything looks fine... MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!!

From my experience working with many claims like this, when they say it's "assigned to a worker" it usually means one of these things: 1. Identity verification issue 2. Employer wage discrepancy 3. Work separation reason needs clarification 4. Potential overpayment investigation 5. Missing documentation Unfortunately, the standard process time is 3-5 weeks in 2025 due to the current backlog. Your best bet is to ensure you've uploaded all possible documentation to your online account and check your message inbox daily for any requests.

I was in the exact same situation a couple months ago and couldn't get through to anyone for WEEKS. Finally used Claimyr to get through to an actual agent (claimyr.com) - they have this system that calls for you and gets you through the phone maze. Costs money but totally worth it because I found out my claim needed additional documentation they never told me about! Fixed it that day and got paid the following week. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

btw did u check ur documnts section on the website? sometimes they request stuff there but dont send email notification

I think the assigned to worker status means they flagged something on your application. Mine was in that status because my employer reported different wages than what I put. It took exactly 31 days from when it was assigned until it was finally approved. I tried calling too but nobody could tell me anything useful either. The whole system is designed to be frustrating I think.

Just to add something important - make sure you continue certifying for benefits each week even while your claim is under review. Once they resolve the issue, they'll release all payments for weeks you properly certified for. Many people make the mistake of not certifying while waiting for resolution and then have to go through another process to claim those back weeks.

my cousin works at NYSDOL (not telling which office lol) and she says theyre massively understaffed right now. like each worker has hundreds of claims to review. not saying its right but thats why everythings taking forever in 2025

Update on timeframes based on recent cases I've worked with: For claims assigned to a worker in February 2025, the average resolution time has been 24 business days (about 4-5 weeks calendar time). However, if you have a more complex case involving multiple employers or interstate wages, it can take longer. One action that sometimes helps: If you reach the 4-week mark with no resolution, request to speak specifically with a Tier 2 claims specialist when you call. They have more authority to expedite reviews that have exceeded the normal timeframe.

After trying to get this resolved for weeks, I finally broke down and used Claimyr to reach an agent. The rep I spoke with was actually able to see notes on my account that the previous people couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me. Turns out my former employer was disputing my claim which is why it was taking so long. At least once I knew that I could mentally prepare for the wait instead of checking my account obsessively every day.

good luck! update us when u hear something!